The Buddha presents pairs for spiritual attainment—such as skill in meditative attainments, serenity and discernment, ethical conduct and view, and mindfulness—alongside hindrances like overeating and lack of sense restraint.

AN 2.163-179 The Chapter on Attainment

163

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Samāpattikusalatā ca samāpattivuṭṭhānakusalatā ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”ti.

164

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Ajjavañca maddavañca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

165

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Khanti ca soraccañca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

166

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Sākhalyañca paṭisanthāro ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

167

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Avihiṁsā ca soceyyañca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

168

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Indriyesu aguttadvāratā ca bhojane amattaññutā ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

169

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Indriyesu guttadvāratā ca bhojane mattaññutā ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

170

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Paṭisaṅkhānabalañca bhāvanābalañca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

171

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Satibalañca samādhibalañca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

172

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Samatho ca vipassanā ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

173

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Sīlavipatti ca diṭṭhivipatti ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

174

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Sīlasampadā ca diṭṭhisampadā ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

175

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Sīlavisuddhi ca diṭṭhivisuddhi ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

176

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Diṭṭhivisuddhi ca yathādiṭṭhissa ca padhānaṁ. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

177

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Asantuṭṭhitā ca kusalesu dhammesu, appaṭivānitā ca padhānasmiṁ. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

178

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Muṭṭhassaccañca asampajaññañca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

179

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame dve? Sati ca sampajaññañca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”ti.

Samāpattivaggo pañcamo.

Tatiyo paṇṇāsako samatto.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

2.163

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Samāpattikusalatā ca samāpattivuṭṭhānakusalatā ca.

Skill in meditative attainments and skill in emerging from those attainments.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”ti.

These are the two things.”

2.164

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Ajjavañca maddavañca.

Integrity and tenderness.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

These are the two things.”

2.165

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Khanti ca soraccañca.

Patience and gentleness.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

These are the two things.”

2.166

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Sākhalyañca paṭisanthāro ca.

Camaraderie and hospitality.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

These are the two things.”

2.167

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Avihiṁsā ca soceyyañca.

Harmlessness and purity.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

These are the two things.”

2.168

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Indriyesu aguttadvāratā ca bhojane amattaññutā ca.

Not guarding the sense doors and eating too much.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

These are the two things.”

2.169

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Indriyesu guttadvāratā ca bhojane mattaññutā ca.

Guarding the sense doors and moderation in eating.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

These are the two things.”

2.170

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Paṭisaṅkhānabalañca bhāvanābalañca.

The power of reflection and the power of development.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

These are the two things.”

2.171

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Satibalañca samādhibalañca.

The power of mindfulness and the power of immersion.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

These are the two things.”

2.172

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Samatho ca vipassanā ca.

Serenity and discernment.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

These are the two things.”

2.173

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Sīlavipatti ca diṭṭhivipatti ca.

Failure in ethical conduct and failure in view.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

These are the two things.”

2.174

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Sīlasampadā ca diṭṭhisampadā ca.

Accomplishment in ethical conduct and accomplishment in view.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

These are the two things.”

2.175

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Sīlavisuddhi ca diṭṭhivisuddhi ca.

Purification of ethics and purification of view.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

These are the two things.”

2.176

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Diṭṭhivisuddhi ca yathādiṭṭhissa ca padhānaṁ.

Purification of view and making an effort in line with that view.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

These are the two things.”

2.177

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Asantuṭṭhitā ca kusalesu dhammesu, appaṭivānitā ca padhānasmiṁ.

To never be content with skillful qualities, and to never stop trying.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

These are the two things.”

2.178

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Muṭṭhassaccañca asampajaññañca.

Lack of mindfulness and lack of situational awareness.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”.

These are the two things.”

2.179

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“There are these two things.

Katame dve?

What two?

Sati ca sampajaññañca.

Mindfulness and situational awareness.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā”ti.

These are the two things.”

Samāpattivaggo pañcamo.

Tatiyo paṇṇāsako samatto.

Topics & Qualities:

Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Discernment

Discernment

Clear seeing that distinguishes what is wholesome from unwholesome, true from false.

Also known as: ability to make out distinctions, ability to discriminate, distinguish, clear seeing, penetrating internal vision
Pāli: viveka, nipaka, niccheyya
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Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026